Motorcoach

NTSB issues safety recs

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made safety recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA); National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Federal Highway Administration; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); American Bus Association (ABA); National Motorcoach Network and the United Motorcoach Association (UMA).

Recommendations to the FMCSA:

H-12-13Develop and disseminate guidance for motor carriers on how to most effectively use currently available onboard monitoring systems and develop a plan to periodically update the guidance.

H-12-14Upon completion of the field operational tests for onboard monitoring systems, determine whether test results indicate that such systems would reduce accidents or injuries, and, if so, require commercial motor carriers to use these systems to improve driver safety.

H-12-15Revise 49 Code of Federal Regulations 391.23 to require that motor carriers obtain a 10-year driving history for all prospective commercial vehicle drivers.

H-12-16Revise 49 Code of Federal Regulations 384.225 to require that states retain on the Commercial Driver’s License Information System driver record all convictions, disqualifications, and other licensing actions for violations during the prior 10 years.

H-12-17Include safety measurement system rating scores in the methodology used to determine a carrier’s fitness to operate in the safety fitness rating rulemaking for the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative.

H-12-18Include in the safety fitness rating rulemaking for the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative a structured process, such as the Safety Management Cycle, to be used by FMCSA investigators and their state Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program agents, as an audit tool for investigators to (1) identify the root cause of safety risks found during compliance reviews, and (2) deliver constructive guidance to motor carriers to ensure the promotion of safety management.

H-12-19Include information regarding the Safety Management Cycle in your Safety is Good Business motor carrier website.

H-12-22Evaluate the effects of seat spacing and armrests as factors for potential occupant injury, and if safer spacing or armrest configurations are identified, develop and implement appropriate guidelines.

Recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration:

H-12-23Work with the AASHTO to establish performance and selection guidelines for state transportation agencies to use in developing objective warrants for high-performance barriers applicable to new construction and rehabilitation projects where barrier replacement has been determined to be appropriate.

H-12-24Until barrier testing has been completed, selection guidelines have been developed, and barrier guidance has been updated in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, provide information to state transportation agencies about (1) the unique considerations associated with commercial passenger vehicle “run-off-the-road” accidents involving point hazards, and (2) the associated potential for catastrophic loss of life.

Recommendations to the AASHTO:

H-12-25Work with the Federal Highway Administration to establish performance and selection guidelines for state transportation agencies to use in developing objective warrants for high-performance barriers applicable to new construction and rehabilitation projects where barrier replacement has been determined to be appropriate.

H-12-26Evaluate the adequacy of barrier systems currently approved through National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 or the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware for safely redirecting commercial passenger vehicles and, if warranted, develop new barrier designs incorporating appropriate height and deflection characteristics capable of safely redirecting commercial passenger vehicles.

H-12-27Once barrier testing has been completed and selection guidelines have been developed, revise chapter 5 of the Roadside Design Guide to incorporate guidance for the selection of high-performance barriers used in new construction and rehabilitation projects; this guidance should specifically address the unique considerations of shielding commercial passenger vehicles from point hazards.

Recommendations to the ABA, National Motorcoach Network, and the UMA:

H-12-28Alert your members to (1) the circumstances of this accident, (2) the existence of the FMCSA’s Safety Management Cycle, and (3) how the safety management process can positively influence carrier safety.